Written by James Smith
Photo by James Smith
The league leaders came to Creasey Park on Saturday as Dunstable Town matched their opponents for large parts of the game but both had to settle for a point, which was a fair reflection on the game.
Town were without Archie McClelland who suffered an unfortunate training ground injury on Thursday while Sam Ezenwaka returned after a spell out with concussion.
The game took an age to get going as there was little goalmouth action and a number of injuries throughout the first quarter, which made it difficult for any rhythm to get going.
The visitors Malik Nosike headed over in the 21st minute but from the resulting goal kick Town took the lead when Luka Lodder latched on to the ball from Alex Desmond and knocked it past Charlie Patmore, it seemed to take an age for the it go in but it duly did much to the delight of the majority of the 269 attendance.
Two minutes later Cockfosters' Jesse Effa’s header was saved with ease by Desmond then Harrison Mead drove a shot wide at the other end.
Coskun Grantham shot over in successive minutes as the visitors tried to find a way back into the game before halftime.
A poor clearance at the back for Town almost brought the equaliser but Desmond was alert to make an important save at the end of the half.
Cockfosters started the second half with intent and drew level just two minutes into it when a low driven cross to the far post by Effa deceived everyone and nestled in the bottom corner.
Desmond made a fine save on 51 minutes to get his team out of jail and another cross from the right almost produced another carbon copy goal but this time the ball was off target and Dunstable were able to clear.
With seventeen minutes left, Jandir Da Cruz headed just over for Cockfosters followed by a shot over the bar by Antonio Michael.
Superb defending by Jamie Ovington and Desmond combined to deny the visitors the lead in the 81st minute then had a couple of half chances before the final whistle.
All in all it was a fair scoreline with Town having the better of the first period but Cockfosters edged the second half.
Team: Desmond; Bishop, Silford; L Smith; Ovington; Osborne; Briggs; Butt; Ezenwaka; Mead; Lodder.
Subs: James; Amu; Greene; Hankins & Bircham.